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Post by indeath on Oct 21, 2022 2:43:34 GMT -6
((August sasses the figures then tries the next tower.))
“What’s a movie? Now I know ya cursed! Only the best darn art form there is.Ya know if you go back ta the village, they got grapes. Ya like grapes, right?”
With that bit of sass he continued towards the other tower (A?) to see if it contained what they were looking for. At least the figures didn’t have a battering ram or anything. Maybe they could throw some food down and the figures would be happy.
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Post by hadopelagic on Oct 21, 2022 3:03:17 GMT -6
((OOC: Una tries to delay the inevitable wall-climbing by talking to the creatures beyond the gate Items: Candle))
For a long moment, Una simply froze and listened to the people at the gate. When they spoke, she nearly jumped out of her boots with shock (a figure of speech, since she was barefoot). Saint Leo didn't want them to get in.
They were dangerous. Must be.
If the manticore was frightening (and it was), these things--with the capacity to reason and communicate and outwit and plan--were absolute nightmares. But it seemed like their motivations were similar. Hunger.
While stepping back slowly, she nearly tripped over her little skull friend. Una stooped to pick him up. August the vampire was shouting about movies; frankly, Una agreed that they were one of the best artistic creations of humankind, but it wasn't the time to agree aloud.
"If you correctly answer my riddle, I'll open the door," she called out to them in a sing-song voice, while taking another step back. Then, she did a quick head shake toward Vince, Leo, and the dog, so they wouldn't think she'd aaaaactually do it. "What do you say? Are you worthy?"
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Post by jarahamee on Oct 21, 2022 3:06:44 GMT -6
The figures address August’s question:
“We do not like grapes, only flesh.”
To Una the lead creature replied;
“I am worthy. What is your riddle?”
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Post by hadopelagic on Oct 21, 2022 3:14:45 GMT -6
((OOC: Una asks the riddle. Items: candle))
A flesh eater.
Well, wasn't that nice?
"Where I come from," Una said, "my water is colder than your ice. What am I, and where is my home?"
She hugged the skull against her chest, waiting.
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Post by kilnarak on Oct 21, 2022 3:17:54 GMT -6
[ Ash takes the torches and continues through the western door. ] [ Items: Ritual Dagger, Una's Flint, Decaying Journal, Torches ]
Ash looked around the room quickly, peering into the barrels and casks, crates and shelves. Aside from a few rotting and moldy scraps, no food remained in this larder, however in one of the crates he did find torches. He gathered them up a little awkwardly, favoring the side with his ruined wing - using that arm pulled the shredded muscles in his back.
The torches bundled under his arm, Ash continued to the western door, and out onto the next walkway.
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Post by tsukikoko on Oct 21, 2022 6:29:30 GMT -6
[OOC: John tries to get Vince to come with him over to the other stairway (G), to open any doors that might be in the way.]
Given that Ash had left and Una was busy distracting whatever howling heathens were cluttering up the outside of the castle, John bumped Vincent to get his attention and then trotted his way over to the remaining stairway (G). After all, he'd need someone with thumbs to get open any heavy castle doors that might be in the way, or carry the objects they still needed. There were still a number of items left on the 'checklist' and the fox rather liked the idea of seeing off those noisy creatures outside.
Should a door stand in the way, he pawed at it and yipped at Vincent, trying to get him to open it.
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Post by jarahamee on Oct 21, 2022 12:35:34 GMT -6
“Colder than ice. Colder than ice. The bottom of the lake in the mountains. Deep under the bog where the dead sleep. You are one of them. I am right, yes?”
The creature’s voice was unnaturally, inhumanly hoarse. It flexed its fingers impatiently, craning forward to try to peer through the relatively large distance between Una and itself. The others behind it keyed into the sound of August’s voice, and began to peer up the castle wall, as if considering something, flowing forward around their ‘leader.’
“Listen… I have…this. If you let us in, you can have it… Or… even if you give us one. Just one. We will give this to you.”
The Lead Creature reaches into its robe and pulls out A Single Rusted Key, which seems to be attached to a chain around its neck, holding it at length to show Una.
Ash opens the Western door from the tower, leading out into the walkway to the westernmost tower (I). The air is cold along the walkway, and Ash can hear some kind of exchange far to the South of his position, but the wind and the distance make it difficult to hear.
From where he stands on the walkway, Ash can see another large structure to the North of the castle, which appears attached to this one. It seems to have been awkwardly added to the fortress, or perhaps, it was the original structure and this one was built around it. Large spires are visible from the other side of the wall with sweeping archways and beautiful, though dark, windows. Ash can see that this building has its own walled structure. It seems similarly dark and abandoned.
If he were to look downward, he can see there is a door to a path(M) that likely leads to this building down below, though it is currently covered in rubble and heavy pieces of collapsed stone.
August walks Westward towards what is probably the guardhouse. The door opens with some gentle convincing. The inside of this room seems to hold supplies for guards, and some kind of mechanism (is it for the drawbridge?) there are many large wheels and chains present, and its operation seems obscure. Beyond that, there are some signs of disrepair that indicate that this mechanism is likely broken beyond repair.
However, within this chamber August finds the Murderhole, and five large and heavy stones. He imagines there is likely more to use elsewhere, but this is a good start.
John ascends the remaining stairwell. He is now on a walkway that has a path North, and a path South. Both are attached to the second floor of apparently abandoned towers. The wind whips by at this height, and he can't help but notice that the stone here has been suffering from its probably disrepair.
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Post by tsukikoko on Oct 21, 2022 15:14:24 GMT -6
[OOC: John decides to carefully travel North along the walkway.]
John gave the decrepit stone a wary glare, not particularly enjoying the idea of making his way across a walkway in such disrepair.
He lifted his muzzle to the wind, turned his head this way and that as he debated which direction he would travel, then looked back the way he'd come to see if anyone was following him. The Kumiho huffed lightly; standing here wasn't going to find a solution to their predicament any faster. Someone might still follow him up, otherwise if he did find anything he'd have to yowl.
After another second or two of deliberation, the fox began to drift his way North, sticking to the inner edge of the walkway and hopefully the less weathered part of the stone. It was a good thing he barely weighed anything, though it would be even better if he could just, you know, become his spiritual self. What an irritation.
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Post by kilnarak on Oct 21, 2022 16:49:39 GMT -6
[ Ash contemplates the second building, then continues to the North Western Tower. ]
Ash hesitates a moment on the walkway, peering down at the second building and trying to decide if it would be safer. This one... well the ground floor seemed safe for now, but he worried about how open these walkways above were, how easy it would be to climb in. The other building had windows, but he wondered how easily those would break. There was also the problem of the rubble blocking it off from the... He wouldn't be able to move that.
His crest shivered a moment, then he continued to the door at the end of the walkway. Best to check this place first before worrying about moving to the next...
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Post by hadopelagic on Oct 21, 2022 17:38:57 GMT -6
((Ooc: Una questions the creature. Items: Candle))
Una scowled.
“One … what?” One finger? She held up her left hand and flexed it. Una could part with the tiniest finger, and when her voice regained its power, she could grow a new one. But she doubted that his hunger would be sated by such a tiny chunk of meat.
“I’m afraid my home is deeper and colder than any abyssal bog,” she said. “But they’re dark … both very dark. I think your heart is darker still.”
She wiggled her pinky finger. “What does the key open? Why should we bargain our lives for it?”
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Post by beastly on Oct 21, 2022 19:17:45 GMT -6
((Ooc: Vincent informs Una that he is just human. He goes with John as prompted. He looks restless, not scared, but tensing for a fight. )) ((Items: tooth, candle, knife))
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Post by indeath on Oct 21, 2022 20:01:52 GMT -6
Ooc: August lets the others know He’s found ghoul crushing rocks but no oil. He says the ghoul crushing part loudly so the door knockers can her. They’re incredibly horribly heavy skull crushing rocks.))
August was kinda sad that no one had come up to chill with him. He hoped it wasn’t the whole vampire thing. Maybe he was too much, he got that sometimes. Still someone had to stay up here to drop rocks on those ghouls. He took a rock and moved back to the walkway above the knockers.
“HEY UNA! I found these here NASTY as heck looking ROCKS! Man it be AWFUL ta have theses JAGGED EDGED rocks fall on ya! Not even ghouls could survive em! Still haven’t seen the ACID or OIL!”
He peeked over the wall to see if his words had any effect on the uninvited guests.
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Post by jarahamee on Oct 22, 2022 2:50:48 GMT -6
The Lead Creature stares, as if through the door, at Una, and shakes its head once, derisively at her offer. The taunt skin over its predatory features had a too-thin look to it. The teeth in its long mouth just a little too sharp. The ‘one’ it spoke of was clearly not one finger. It turned its head slowly, and then flexed its fingers, closing them into trembling fists, then squeezing its luminous eyes closed. Its voice trembled as it attempted to focus and answer her questions;
“This…was guarded with the life of a man. Many men. It must have been important. So it is worth one man. Give him to me.”
It then shook its head, running a finger through its disheveled hair, clearly running out of patience.
“You…deep..dark..abyss…the sky. The sea… Beyond…”
It ground its teeth together audibly.
The man to its right reached out a hand and pointed towards Una’s general direction, before hissing; “Why don’t we eat /her/, brother?”
Una laughs at that and say, “Bigger fish have tried … you’re unworthy.” And then runs to August with her candle and skull.
“Yes… her… we…should feast.”
Answered the Lead Creature with some finality. The creatures exchanged a look that seemed to carry some meaning. The Lead Creature appeared to give up the charade. It paused, dropping down onto all fours, letting out the awful, strangled cries of a rabid beast as it did so. Its body contorted within its clothes like a butterfly in its chrysalis, bones crunching, skin tearing, hair growing. The others followed suit, twisting, writhing, changing in their loose-fitting robes, growing and transforming in the blood-tinged light of the huge and oppressive-feeling full moon. Within a few moments they had completely discarded what was left of their human disguises, and become something…else.
It was difficult to discern exactly what they were at this distance, but they seemed visually distinct. Three were furred with long, slavering muzzles and grizzled, dark bodies, and the other two had distinctly shorter faces and seemed to lack fur altogether. The glow from their eyes was identical in appearance.
August can tell that the Lead Creature seems to be lighter in color than its fellows in its transformed state. The Lead Creature looks up at August, its terrible shining eyes now a brilliant, slit-pupilled yellow color. Its long red tongue flops from between its slavering jaws as it speaks, voice now even more distorted, deep and inhuman;
“We aren’t afraid of rocks. The men before you tried, and found their new home in our bellies.”
And with this, the Lead Creature puts out a hand to touch the portcullis. Some with know-how would realize it is preparing to climb it.
Una joins August in the guardhouse. The door opens with some gentle convincing. The inside of this room seems to hold supplies for guards, and some kind of mechanism (is it for the drawbridge?) there are many large wheels and chains present, and its operation seems obscure. Beyond that, there are some signs of disrepair that indicate that this mechanism is likely broken beyond repair.
However, within this chamber she finds August, the Murderhole, and five large and heavy stones. She also notes two doors, one on the East, and one on the West which seems to lead to other portions of the upper walkway, and a small stairwell so that one can reach the top of the guardhouse structure (and perhaps drop things off of it) “Let me help you with those, you horrible-tasting head crusher!” Says Una in reply to August’s proclamation John, Vince and Ash all enter the same floor of the same tower (I), but from different doors. Ash enters from the Eastern door, and John and Vincent from the Southern one. This room appears to be filled with many storage pots, which on inspection, appear to be filled with oil. There is also a large cooking pot, which appears to be quite heavy, that one likely would use to heat the oil. A strong man could carry one jar of oil, or the cooking pot at one time.
A crow lands on one of the crenelations and cries;
“The serpent claims one. Only four left.”
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Post by tsukikoko on Oct 22, 2022 16:28:18 GMT -6
[OOC: John about-faces and investigates the South direction.]
Looking about himself and crinkling his nose at the pungent smell of oil, the Kumiho quickly realised that he wouldn't be of much use here. He was neither big, strong, nor bipedal enough to carry either jar or oil and he didn't think it pertinent to waste time when slavering beastmen were clamouring at the walls.
So, with a small yip to signal his departure, John turned himself around and retraced his steps, before carefully making his way South to investigate the other tower.
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Post by jarahamee on Oct 22, 2022 16:35:00 GMT -6
John quickly makes his way South to the final tower(O). This place appears to have been an armory. It is unclear what took place in this room but there are pieces of rusted armor scattered about, along with dark stains across the floor and walls. The weapons here seem broken, bent or rusted, and appear to be of little use, save for a single BOW sitting on a table, and a handful (5) arrows in the quiver resting on the floor under the nearby table. There is a staircase down to the bottom floor of the tower, and another door to the East of this structure which likely leads to another walkway.
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